System, program product and methods for retail activation and reload associated with partial authorization transactions

ABSTRACT

Systems, program product, apparatus and method for transmitting and processing the sale of a transaction card product over an existing payment network using partial authorization messaging, are provided. An example of such a system can include a merchant POS apparatus equipped to support partial authorization messaging, a transaction card issuer server in communication therewith, and a transaction card product. The transaction card product can include a conventional transaction card securely wrapped within a tamper evident container that can carry its own magnetic strip. The container magnetic strip can store an assigned unique card identifier linked to, but different from, the card identifier normally associated with the card. The container card identifier stored in the container magnetic strip is compatible with the merchant POS card reader and is usable to activate the card without the merchant or consumer having access to the card, the card identifier, or the card magnetic strip.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/554,432, filed Sep. 4, 2009, titled “System,Program Product And Methods For Retail Activation And Reload AssociatedWith Partial Authorization Transactions,” which claims priority to U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/148,752, filed on Jan. 30, 2009,titled “System, Program Product and Methods for Retail Activation andReload Associated With Partial Authorization Transactions,” U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/110,332, filed Oct. 31, 2008,titled “System, Program Product and Methods for Retail Activation andReload Associated With Partial Authorization Transactions,” U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/094,335, filed Sep. 4, 2008,titled “System, Program Product and Methods for Retail Activation andReload Associated With Partial Authorization Transactions,” and U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/118,127, filed on Nov. 26, 2008,titled “System, Apparatus, Methods and Program Product for ElectronicInventory Tracking,” and is related to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/110,319, filed on Oct. 31, 2008, titled “System,Methods, and Program Product for Electronic Order Entry,” eachincorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the financial service andcard product industries, and more specifically, to systems, programproducts, and associated methods of activating financial andnon-financial transaction cards and reloading debit-type and otherprepaid payment Or other cards using partial authorization messaging.

2. Description of Related Art

It has been known that banks offer and sell bank card products such asdebit cards, credit cards, automatic teller machine (ATM) cards, giftcards, and combinations thereof, e.g., ATM/debit card, which provide analternative payment methodology to that of using cash (hard-currency) orpaper checks when making purchases. Such cards typically have advantagesthat can not be provided by the use of cash. For example, if cash isstolen, even if the thief is caught, it is almost impossible to proveownership of the cash. Further, the issuers of the cards typically haveprocedures to absolve or limit liability of the consumer if the theft isreported within a preset time frame. Such cards also can have or providebuilt in procedures that help prevent usage by less educated thieves.Further, because of the convenience and flexibility, such cards havebecome a valuable tool used by retailers to provide consumers withrebates, in-store credit, and promotions.

From the aspect of the consumer, use of such cards, particularly debitcards, e.g., pre-paid debit cards, branded gift cards, etc., arefunctionally similar to writing a check, as the funds are withdrawndirectly from either the bank account, or in some cases, from theremaining balance on the card. Although credit cards have been popularfor many years, the use of debit-type cards has only more recentlybecome wide-spread, and is still growing. Such use, in fact, in manycountries, has quickly moved to a point of becoming more popular thanthe “paper” check, and at least by volume, in certain instances, haseven exceeded the use of cash.

From the aspect of the merchant, there has traditionally been asubstantial difference in the methodology of handling debit cards fromthat of handling credit cards. For example, credit card purchases havetraditionally been processed through use of a merchant accountaffiliated with a credit card payment network such as, for example,Visa®, MasterCard®, American Express®, Discover®, etc., whereas debitcard purchases have traditionally been processed through an interbanknetwork such as, for example, Cirrus®, PLUS®, etc.

Debit cards supplied directly by a bank that provide access to funds ofa specific user bank savings or checking account have traditionally beenmailed directly to the user's address provided by the user for the bankto send monthly bank statements and are activated using a 1-800 number.Other types of the cards, for example, gift and other prepaid cards,however, are generally delivered directly by the merchant. Activation ofsuch prepaid cards has typically been through use of proprietaryactivation terminals unique to the card issuer's distributor. This typeof system is typically referred to as a “closed system.” In oneexemplary closed system, at the time of sale, the retail merchant entersa card identifier and a value into a dedicated activation terminal. Theactivation terminal connects to the computer system of the card issuer'sdistributor and sends the entered value to request activation of theidentified card. Although somewhat functional, such closed systems canbe expensive to implement, both monetarily and space wise, due to therequirement for having the dedicated terminal. Further, such systems canlimit a merchant's ability to easily switch between different cardissuers, as one card issuer's distributor's activation terminal wouldnot be expected to be compatible with a different card issuer'sdistributor's system.

Some newer types of card systems utilize the multi-applicationcapability of the merchant's standard POS terminals provided by “opensystems” payment vendors to permit a “closed system” application toreside in the “open systems” payment terminal. Such systems can allowaccess to the card issuer via, the traditional debit network, through asponsor bank, or via a direct connection, etc. Such systems, however,can be expensive to implement and can have a significant impact on thepoint-of-sale system. For example, such systems require substantialsoftware upgrades to the merchant's point-of-sale (“POS”) system. Suchupgrades typically have a substantial lag (e.g., six months or more)between the time a merchant requests such upgrades and the time suchupgrades are tested and delivered. Accordingly, such systems can alsolimit a merchant's ability to easily switch between different cardissuers, as one card issuer's software upgrades would not be expected tobe compatible with a different card issuer's system. Further, suchsystems can slow down the checkout line as they may require aninterruption in the normal register operations once a merchant begins toprocess the sale of the prepaid card. Recognized by the inventors,however, is that “open systems” nevertheless have the potential forproviding the merchant needed flexibility.

These tradition closed and hybrid card systems also characteristicallyimplement the settlement of activation funds as a funding transactionbetween the merchant and the issuer's distributor and then between theissuer's distributor and the issuer. Such methodology adds a significantdelay and risk in protecting and facilitating the accessibility of thecustomer's money.

Accordingly, recognized by the inventors is the need for a system,apparatus, program product, and methods which can allow activation ofgift and other prepaid cards via the merchant's POS system that does notrequire significant software upgrades, that can use existing POS systemcommunication networks, and that does not require interruption in normalregister operations, and that can settle activation funding directlybetween merchant and issuer in a timely manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, various embodiments of the present inventionadvantageously provide a system, apparatus, program product, and methodsthat can allow activation of gift and other prepaid cards via themerchant's point-of-sale (“POS”) system without the need to perform asignificant software upgrade to the merchant's POS equipment. Suchembodiments of the present invention advantageously can use existing POSequipment communication networks to communicate between the POSequipment and the card issuer/affiliated financial institution.Embodiments of the present invention also advantageously do not requireinterruption of normal register operations when processing a purchase ofa prepaid or gift card along with other retail items.

More particularly, various embodiments of the present inventionadvantageously provide systems for activating and processing the sale ofa serialized transaction card product over existing payment networksutilizing partial-authorization messaging. An example of a systemaccording to an embodiment of the present invention, for example,includes a financial institution server positioned at a financialinstitution site, remote from, and in communication with, a merchantpoint-of-sale (“POS”) apparatus through an open payment network, andtransaction card account activation and processing computer programproduct stored in the memory of the financial institution server tomanage transaction card activation. The financial institution server istypically owned or associated with a transaction card issuer.

The transaction card account activation and processing computer programproduct can include a set of instructions that, when executed by acomputer such as, for example, the financial institution server, causethe computer to perform various operations to include receiving a firstpayment message including transaction card account activation requestdata from the merchant point-of-sale apparatus through the existing openpayment network responsive to a user interfacing a transaction cardproduct account activation indicator with the merchant point-of-sateapparatus, and sending activation approval data to the merchant POSapparatus through the payment network (e.g., data indicating a partialauthorization approval balance of zero dollars) responsive to receivingat least portions of the activation request data. The account activationindicator is positioned on a portion of an external surface of a retailcontainer of a transaction card product securely containing atransaction card, which carries a first storage medium containingindicia of a first unique transaction card identifier associated with aunique transaction card transaction account. The account activationindicator includes a second storage medium containing indicia of asecond unique transaction card identifier associated with the firstunique transaction card identifier, and the activation request dataincludes at least a portion of the second unique transaction cardidentifier and a flag indicating a capability of the merchant POSapparatus to support partial-authorization messaging.

The operations can also include receiving from the merchant POSapparatus through the payment network, a second payment messageincluding transaction card product purchase acknowledgment data (e.g., apurchase acknowledgment indicating that the merchant POS apparatusand/or a merchant associated therewith received sufficient monetaryfunds from a purchasing customer to purchase the transaction cardproduct), and a completing activation of the transaction card responsiveto receiving at least portions of the purchasing knowledge data. Thiscan include translating a portion of the second unique transaction cardidentifier (e.g., “Activation BIN”) to at least a portion of the firstunique transaction card identifier (e.g., “Transaction Bin” or “ActualTransaction Card ID”), and funding the associated transaction cardtransaction account, for example, according to the transaction cardvalue advertised on the retail packaging.

The transaction card product, according to the exemplary embodiment ofthe system, provides a transaction card including a first magnetic stripstoring the first unique transaction card identifier associated with orotherwise linked to a unique transaction card transaction account, and atamper evident retail packaging container securely containing thetransaction card. The packaging container carries a productidentification indicator positioned on a first portion of an externalsurface, and the account activation indicator positioned on a secondportion of the external surface. The account activation indicator caninclude a second magnetic strip storing the assigned second uniquetransaction card identifier, which is different from, but linked to, thefirst transaction card identifier, so that a prospective thief havingknowledge of the second unique transaction card identifier would notreadily have knowledge of the first transaction card identifier or theassociated unique transaction card transaction account. The secondunique transaction card identifier is beneficially associated with thefirst transaction card identifier so that the financial institutionserver can activate the unique transaction card transaction accountresponsive to receiving an indication of at least portions of the secondtransaction card identifier without having first received at leastportions of the first transaction card identifier.

Various embodiments of the present invention also provide transactioncard account activation and processing computer program product as astandalone product stored in a computer readable medium, to managetransaction card activation. An example of such program product,according to an embodiment of the present invention, can include a setof instructions that, when accessed and executed by a computer (e.g.,financial institution server or servers, or other computer or computers,etc.), cause the computer or computers to perform various operationsincluding the operation of receiving a first payment message includingtransaction card account activation request data from a merchantpoint-of-sale apparatus through an existing, e.g., open payment networkresponsive to a user interfacing a transaction card product accountactivation indicator with the merchant point-of-sale apparatus. Theactivation request data can include at least a portion of the secondunique transaction card identifier and a flag indicating a capability ofthe merchant POS apparatus to support partial-authorization messaging.The account activation indicator is typically carried on a retailpackaging container of the transaction card product securely containingthe transaction card. The account activation indicator includes a secondstorage medium storing the assigned second unique transaction cardidentifier. The second unique transaction card identifier is differentfrom, but linked to, the first unique transaction card identifier. Theactivation request data includes at least a portion of the second uniquetransaction card identifier and a flag indicating a capability of themerchant POS apparatus to support partial-authorization messaging.

The operations can also include sending activation approval data to themerchant POS apparatus through the payment network responsive toreceiving at least portions of the activation request data, and caninclude completing activation of the transaction card responsive toreceiving the second payment message. The activation approval data caninclude data indicating a partial authorization approval balance of,e.g., zero dollars for the transaction card transaction account. Theoperations can further include receiving a second payment messageincluding transaction card product purchase acknowledgment data from themerchant POS apparatus through the payment network. The purchasingacknowledgment data can include a purchase acknowledgment that themerchant PUS apparatus or a merchant associated therewith has receivedsufficient monetary funds from a purchasing customer to purchase thetransaction card product.

Various embodiments of the present invention also provide apparatus,e.g., in the form of a retail transaction card product, to facilitateretail activation and processing the sale of a transaction cardutilizing partial-authorization messaging. An example of an apparatus,according to an embodiment of the present invention, can include orotherwise provide a financial or non-financial transaction cardincluding a magnetic strip storing a first unique transaction cardidentifier associated with or otherwise linked to a unique transactioncard transaction account, which can have an account number that is thesame as the card identifier or a different series of numbers. Theapparatus can also include a tamper evident retail container containingthe transaction card and carrying or otherwise including a productidentification indicator, e.g., UPC, and an account activationindicator, e.g., magnetic strip, storing or otherwise including indiciaof an assigned second unique transaction card identifier different fromthat of the first transaction card identifier. The account activationindicator is positioned to allow a remotely positioned financialinstitution, through a merchant PUS and a payment network, to identifythe transaction card while the transaction card is securely containedwithin the container. The second unique transaction card identifier iseither directly associated with the first unique transaction cardidentifier or indirectly associated therewith through an associationwith the unique transaction card transaction account which is directlyassociated with the first unique transaction card identifier, forexample, to allow ready identification and activation of the transactioncard without the need to open the retail package.

Various embodiments of the present invention also provide methods ofactivating and processing the sale of a serialized transaction cardproduct over existing payment networks utilizing partial-authorizationmessaging. An example of a method, according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, can include various steps including associating eachof a plurality of transaction cards, e.g., branded gift and prepaiddebit cards (each associated with a separate first unique transactioncard identifier) with a corresponding separate one of a plurality ofunique transaction card transaction accounts. The method can alsoinclude the steps of generating a second unique transaction cardidentifier for each separate one of the plurality of transaction cards,linking or otherwise associating each second unique transaction cardidentifier to a separate corresponding first transaction cardidentifier, packaging each of the plurality of transaction cards in aseparate retail container to form a plurality of retail transaction cardproducts, and distributing the plurality of retail transaction cardproducts to a merchant having point-of-sale (“POS”) apparatus thatsupports partial-authorization messaging in a PUS environment. Eachretail container can include or have affixed thereto a productidentification indicator (e.g., UPC) and an activation account indicator(e.g., magnetic strip) storing or otherwise including indicia of anassigned one of the plurality of second unique transaction cardidentifiers.

The method can also include the steps of receiving a first paymentmessage including activation request data from the merchant PUSapparatus of an existing, e.g., open payment network by a suitablyconfigured computer such as, for example, the financial institutionserver described above, responsive to a user interfacing an accountactivation indicator of a selected one of the transaction card productswith the merchant PUS apparatus, and sending activation approval data tothe merchant PUS apparatus through the payment network responsive toreceiving at least portions of the activation request data. Theactivation request data is associated with a selected one of the retailtransaction card products to be purchased containing one of theplurality of transaction cards and can include at least a portion of thesecond unique transaction card identifier assigned to the selectedtransaction card, and a flag indicating a capability of the merchant PUSapparatus to support partial-authorization messaging. The activationapproval data corresponding can include data indicating a partialauthorization approval balance for the transaction card transactionaccount associated with the selected transaction card.

The method can also include the steps of receiving a second paymentmessage by the computer containing transaction card product purchaseacknowledgment data from the merchant PUS apparatus through the paymentnetwork, and can include completing activation of the selectedtransaction card responsive to receiving at least portions of thepurchase acknowledgment data. The purchase acknowledgment data caninclude a purchase acknowledgment (indication) indicating that themerchant POS apparatus or a merchant associated therewith receivedsufficient monetary funds from a purchasing customer to purchase theselected transaction card.

Further, having activated the card via partial-authorization messaging,the method can further include the issuer settling funds directly(merchant bank to issuing bank) to acquire the customer's value from themerchant to fund the card account. That is, responsive to thepartial-authorization which placed the merchant in a position to apply aseparate tender via a standard payment transaction to pay for the “valuesold”, the issuer advantageously can settle directly with the merchant,e.g., via ACH, for the pre-denominated amount of the transaction pluscontract fees.

Various embodiments of the present invention also provide methods offorming apparatus to facilitate retail activation and processing thesale of a transaction card utilizing partial-authorization messaging. Anexample of such a method, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, can include various computer-implemented steps includinggenerating a plurality of first unique transaction card identifiers eachto be assigned or otherwise associated with a separate one of aplurality of transaction cards, and generating a plurality of secondunique transaction card identifiers each to be assigned or otherwiseassociated with a separate one of the plurality of transaction cards andeach to be applied to a corresponding separate one of a plurality ofe.g., tamper evident retail containers configured to contain arespective one of the plurality of transaction cards. The step ofgenerating the plurality of first unique transaction card identifierscan include combining or otherwise associating each of a plurality ofunique numbers with a first common Bank Identification Number (“BIN”)defining a transaction BIN to thereby form the plurality of first uniquetransaction card identifiers. The step of generating a plurality ofsecond unique transaction card identifiers can include combining orotherwise associating each of the plurality of unique numbers with asecond common BIN defining an activation BIN to form a plurality ofsecond unique transaction card identifiers.

The method can also include the steps of directly associating eachsecond unique transaction card identifier of the plurality of secondunique transaction card identifiers with a corresponding separate one ofa plurality of first unique transaction card identifiers, for example,to use of a look-up table, or indirectly associating each separate oneof the plurality of second unique transaction card identifiers with acorresponding separate one of the plurality of first unique transactioncard identifiers via associating each respective second uniquetransaction card identifier with a corresponding separate one of theplurality of unique transaction card transaction accounts, which is, inturn, associated with the respective separate one of the plurality offirst unique transaction card identifiers. This can be accomplished, forexample, through use of a pair of lookup tables. Note, in a typicalembodiment of the present invention, the first unique transaction cardidentifier and/or the second unique transaction card identifier eachincorporate the associated transaction card transaction account numberor a number associated therewith. Accordingly, identification of thetransaction card transaction account number via either one of the firstor second associated unique transaction card identifiers can be used toidentify the other unique transaction card identifier.

The method can also include positioning each transaction card of theplurality of transaction cards within a separate one of the plurality ofcontainers, and affixing to each of the plurality of containers,corresponding unique indicia (e.g., an open payment network processingsystem compatible magnetic strip, REID, etc.) indicating the respectivesecond unique transaction card identifier directly or indirectlyassociated with the first unique transaction card identifier stored inthe storage medium carried by the transaction card contained within thecontainer, to thereby form the plurality of transaction card productapparatus for distribution and retail sale, for example, according tothe methodologies described above using the systems described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that the manner in which the features and advantages of theinvention, as well as others which will become apparent, may beunderstood in more detail, a more particular description of theinvention briefly summarized above may be had by reference to theembodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings,which form a part of this specification. It is to be noted, however,that the drawings illustrate only various embodiments of the inventionand are therefore not to be considered limiting of the invention's scopeas it may include other effective embodiments as well.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a system for activating andprocessing the sale of a serialized transaction card product overexisting payment networks utilizing partial-authorization messagingaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 2A-2B are a perspective view of the front and back of a tamperevident transaction card product according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIGS. 2C-2D are a perspective view of the front and back of atransaction card to be positioned in the tamper evident transaction cardproduct according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic block flow diagram illustrating the steps offorming and delivering the transaction card product shown in FIGS. 2A-2Baccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic block flow diagram illustrating the steps forgenerating a second unique transaction card identifier for each of thetransaction cards according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic block flow diagram illustrating the steps forpackaging each of the transaction cards in a separate retail containerto form a retail transaction card product according to an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic block flow diagram illustrating the steps forprocessing the transaction card package at the merchant POS according toan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating the steps activating thetransaction card using partial authorization messaging according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic block flow diagram illustrating a “successfultransaction” scenario for a method of activating and processing the saleof a serialized transaction card product over an existing paymentnetwork utilizing partial-authorization messaging according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic block flow diagram illustrating a “pre-paymentvoid” scenario according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a schematic block flow diagram illustrating a “transactiondeclined by issuer” scenario according to an embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 11 is a schematic block flow diagram illustrating a “post-paymentvoid (product returned)” scenario according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate embodiments ofthe invention. This invention may, however, be embodied in manydifferent forms and should not be construed as limited to theillustrated embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments areprovided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and willfully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

FIGS. 1-11 illustrate a system 30, program product, and methods foractivating and processing the sale of a serialized transaction cardproduct 31 over existing payment networks utilizingpartial-authorization messaging. Such system 30, program product, andmethods can allow activation of a transaction card via the merchant'spoint-of-sale (“POS”) systems or apparatus 37 without the need toperform a significant software upgrade to the existing merchant's POSsystems or apparatus 37. As such, the transaction card product 31 can bedistributed to and sold by a merchant without a significant burden oneither the merchant, the merchant's employees, the merchant's computersystem, or the merchant's floor space, etc., for the merchant to be ableto begin immediately selling the transaction card product 31.

As perhaps best shown in FIG. 1, and as identified above, variousembodiments of the present invention provide a system 30 for activatingand processing the sale of a serialized transaction card product 31(see, e.g., FIGS. 2A-2B), e.g., packaged/wrapped gift, prepaiddebit-type cards, secured credit cards, phone cards, etc., over anexisting open payment network 33, e.g., Visa®, MasterCard®, AmericanExpress®, Discover®, etc., utilizing partial-authorization messaging.

Note, although not necessarily used in the manner for which it wasdeveloped, according to various embodiments of the present invention,partial-authorization messaging provides a useful tool for activatingthe serialized transaction card product 31. Partial-authorizationmessaging is a communication capability implemented, for example, byVisa®, which allows Visa® to return a purchase authorization value for aVisa® prepaid card to be the current account balance instead of therequested value when the requested value is over the associated accountbalance. For example, if a gasoline pump configured to accept partialauthorizations, transmits a purchase authorization request of, forexample, $50, in response to a payment from a Visa® prepaid card, butthe account balance of the associated account is only $30, the Visa®debit processing system can return a partial authorization of $30.Accordingly, the pump can configure itself to automatically shut off ifthe meter reaches $30. If the pump was not configured to support partialauthorizations, a Visa® would have returned a message indicatinginsufficient funds were available. Thus, the account balance would needto be verified by the user so that the pump could be set, for example,by the merchant, to be limited to the amount of fuel representing anamount equal to or less than the account balance.

As further shown in FIG. 1, the system 30, according to an embodiment ofthe present invention, can include the transaction card product 31 and afinancial institution computer (e.g. financial institution server 35),positioned at a financial institution site and affiliated, for example,with an issuer of the transaction card product 31. The system 30 canalso include a merchant POS apparatus 37 positioned remote from thefinancial institution server 35 and in communication with the financialinstitution server 35 through the payment network 33.

The financial institution server 35 can contain or otherwise include aprocessor 43, and memory 45 coupled to the processor 43 to storesoftware and database records therein, for example, connected directlyto system/non-system components and/or networked to such components. Assuch, the system 30 can further include a user interface 47, which caninclude a graphical display 49 for displaying graphical images, and auser input device 51 as known to those skilled in the art, to provide auser access to manipulate the software and database records, The userinterface 47 can be either directly connected to the server 35, orthrough, e.g., a local area network 53, as known to those skilled in theart.

Note, the memory 45 can include volatile and nonvolatile memory known tothose skilled in the art, including, for example, RAM, ROM, and magneticor optical disks, just to name a few. Note also, it should also beunderstood that the preferred server configuration of server 35 is givenby way of example and that other types of servers or computersconfigured according to various other methodologies known to thoseskilled in the art, can be used. The server 35 shown schematically, forexample, in FIG, 1, represents a server or server cluster or server farmand is not limited to any individual physical server. The server 35 canbe a personal computer capable of functioning as a server, a pluralityof computers on a local area network, or a “traditional” server as knownby those skilled in the art. The server site may be deployed as a serverfarm or server cluster managed by a serving hosting provider. The numberof servers and their architecture and configuration may be increasedbased on usage, demand and capacity requirements for the system 30.

The merchant POS apparatus 37 can include a keypad 61 for entering inalphanumeric symbols, a barcode scanner 63, and a magnetic stripreader/slot 65. Alternative embodiments of the merchant POS apparatus 37can include an RFD interface (not shown) and/or a contact memory buttonreader (not shown). The merchant POS apparatus 37 further includesvarious software and hardware for interfacing with the payment network33 as known and understood by those skilled in the art.

The transaction card product 31 (see, e.g., FIGS. 2A-2B) can include atransaction card 71 (see, e.g., FIGS. 2C-2D) which can be either afinancial or non-financial transaction card. The transaction card 71 caninclude a storage media, e.g., magnetic strip 73, storing a first uniquetransaction card identifier 75 associated with a unique transaction cardtransaction account/number 77 (terms used interchangeably throughout).The transaction card transaction account 77 can have an account numberthat is the same as the card identifier 75 or a different series ofnumbers as known to those skilled in the art. Note, it should beunderstood that although magnetic strip 73 provides the typical storagemedia configuration for most types of transaction card 71, other formsof storage including RFID, contact memory, etc., are within the scope ofthe present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 2A-2B, the transaction card product 31 can alsoinclude a retail package container 81 containing the transaction card71. According to a preferred configuration, the packaging container 81is in the form of a tamperproof and tamper evident packaging container81 which not only masks and prevents access to the magnetic strip 73 ofthe transaction card 71, but also includes characteristics known tothose skilled in the art, which result in the packaging container 81having various tamper evident features such that the container 81readily visually indicates to the merchant, any attempts by a customeror thief to remove the card 71 or gain physical access to thetransaction card 71. Note, where the storage media storing the firstunique transaction card identifier 75 is in the form of MD chip, thepackaging container 81 can further include appropriate radiofrequencyshielding as known to those skilled in the art.

In an exemplary scenario, a thief, whom can be a number of types ofindividuals ranging from merchant employees to third-party customers,removes one or more packaged prepaid cards from a merchant store shelf,carefully removes the cards from the packaging, scans the magneticstrip, inserts the cards back in the package, and places the cards backon the shelf The thief then loads a blank card with the scanned carddata and periodically checks the website of the card issuer to determineif the card has been activated by a consumer. An unsuspecting consumerthen purchases the same “tampered with” card or cards. Once activated,the thief utilizes the counterfeit card to make purchases. Suchscenarios reflect why prepaid cards are typically displayed from behindthe counter or in a fairly secure location that can be easily watched,and why closed systems have traditionally been used.

Accordingly and beneficially, a tamper evident packaging container 81,according to an embodiment of the present invention, can make itdifficult for a prospective thief to scan the transaction card 71without causing easily recognized damage to the packaging container81—warning the merchant and consumer not to activate the tampered-withcard. Thus, the transaction card product 31 beneficially need not bedisplayed from “behind the counter,” but can be positioned out on themain floor of the merchant establishment with minimal security.

According to a preferred configuration, the retail-packaging container81 containing the transaction card 71 can include a productidentification indicator 83 positioned on a first portion of theexternal surface of the container 81, and an account activationindicator 85 positioned on a second portion of the external surface ofthe container 81. The product identification indicator 83 can becollocated with the account activation indicator 85 or can be positionedspaced apart from the account activation indicator 85 as shown in FIG.2A. According to the preferred configuration, the product identificationindicator 83 can he in the form of a universal product code (“UPC”)and/or a stock-keeping unit (“SKU”), which is scannable by a barcodereader/wand 63. The product identification indicator 83 can, however,alternatively be presented in other forms known to those skilled in theart to include text, RHD, etc. The product identification indicator 83allows the merchant POS apparatus 37 to recognize the product beingpurchased—i.e., $50 prepaid card, $100 prepaid card, non-denominatedprepaid card having a $500 limit, phone card, etc.

According to the preferred configuration, the account activationindicator 85 can be in the form of a magnetic strip 85 storing anassigned second unique transaction card identifier 89. The magneticstrip 85 is located along an edge of the packaging container 81, and theportion of the container carrying the magnetic strip 85 is sufficientlythin so that the respective portion of the container 81 carrying themagnetic strip 85 can be “swiped” through, and the transaction cardidentifier 89 read by, the magnetic strip reader/slot 65. Note, althoughthe account activation indicator 85 was described in the form of amagnetic strip, other forms of indicator are within the scope of thepresent invention. For example, the account activation indicator 85 canbe in the form of a barcode, or can be provided in the form of an RFIDchip or contact memory as known to those skilled in the art.

The second unique transaction card identifier 89 is explicitly madedifferent from the first transaction card identifier 75 so that aprospective thief having knowledge of the second unique transaction cardidentifier (e.g., by scanning the magnetic strip 85) would not readilyhave knowledge of the first transaction card identifier 75 or theassociated unique transaction card transaction account number 77, thus,thwarting the previously described theft scenario.

According to the preferred embodiment of the transaction card product31, the first unique transaction card identifier 75 preferably in theform of a transaction Primary Account Number (“PAN”), which can includea transaction Bank Identification Number (“BIN”) 91 (alsointerchangeably referred to as an Issuer identifier Number (“IIN”)),typically the first six digits of the PAN, for example, and which isused to identify the issuing bank or other issuer. The PAN can alsoinclude a unique number 92, typically a sequential number, for example,which can provide the “uniqueness” for the transaction cardidentifier/PAN, and a checksum digit 93. Other variations are, however,within the scope of the present invention. These numbers are used forrouting payment information through the payment network 33 and forrecognition of the transaction card transaction account/number 77, asknown and understood by those skilled in the art.

Similarly, the second unique transaction card identifier 89 preferablyin the form of an activation PAN including an activation BIN 95 used forrouting activation information through the payment network 33, a uniquenumber 96, and a checksum 97, which individually or collectively can beused for internal recognition of the transaction PAN of the firstidentifier 75 and/or the transaction card transaction account/number 77.That is, the transaction card identifier 75 (e.g., transaction PAN) canbe linked with the activation card identifier 89 (e.g., activation PAN)to create a relationship so that when the activation PAN (e.g.,activation BIN plus unique number) is presented in a transaction, it hasa one-to-one relationship with the transaction (financial) card PAN(transaction BIN plus unique number).

According to the preferred configuration, in order to preventunauthorized identification of the transaction PAN, the activation PANis different from the transaction PAN and the activation BIN ispreferably correspondingly different from that of the transaction BIN,but the unique transaction number 92 is either the same number or isotherwise in correspondence with the unique transaction number 96.

Further, according to the preferred configuration, the activation BIN 95is issued and dedicated to use for “activation.” The activation BIN 95can be either financial (will settle transactions) or non-financial(will not settle transactions). A series of activation PANs can begenerated from the activation BIN 95, which are separately assigned to alike number of transaction cards 71. Each generated activation PAN isthen linked, for example, to a unique identifier on the card 71 (e.g.,the transaction card identifier/PAN 75)

As indicated above, the second unique transaction card identifier 89including or consisting of one of the generated activation PANs, theassociated unique number 96, and/or the associated activation BIN 95, iseither directly or indirectly associated with the first transaction cardidentifier 75, and thus, the unique transaction card transactionaccount/number 77 linked to the specific transaction card 71, so thatthe financial institution server 35 can activate the transaction cardtransaction account 77 (i.e., activate the card 71 and fund/allow accessto the associated transaction account 77). Beneficially, due to suchassociation/linking, the financial institution server 35 can perform atleast portions of the activation process in response to receiving anindication of the PAN or unique number portion of the second transactioncard identifier 89 without having first received the first transactioncard identifier/TAN 75. I.e., the activation PAN can be provided solelyfor the purpose of “activating” the specific transaction card 71 whilethe card is still sealed in the packaging container 81, where thetransaction PAN can be provided for transactional use of the card 71after the account 77 has been activated and the card 71 removed from thepackaging container 81.

As shown in FIG. 1, the system 30 can also include a database 55 stored,for example, in the memory 45 (internal or external, networked, ornon-networked) of the server 35, as shown, for example, in FIG. 1, orstored in the memory of a database server (not shown). The database 55can contain data related to the first transaction card identifier 75,the second transaction card identifier 89, the transaction cardtransaction account 77, and the UPC and/or SKU 83 of each of a pluralityof transaction cards 71 and/or products 31. According to oneconfiguration of many different types of configurations known to thoseskilled in the art of computer systems, the database 55 can, forexample, include or be in the form of a table (not shown) listing foreach transaction card 71 and/or product 31, the transaction cardtransaction account/number 77, the first transaction card identifier 75,the second transaction card identifier 89, and optionally, the UPCand/or SKU 83 and/or the merchant name if delivered to or earmarked fora specific merchant. Note, rather than, or in addition to, the entirefirst or second transaction card identifier 75, 89, the table canseparately include the transaction BIN 91, the unique number 92 portionof the transaction PAN, and the activation BIN 95 and/or unique number96 portion of the activation PAN. If the unique number 92 is the samenumber as unique number 96, the table can include the transaction BIN91, activation BIN 95, and the unique number 92/96 (in a single entry).Regardless, such table can allow the card issuer (e.g., via server 35)to readily determine the account/number 77 separately from either thetransaction or activation PAN or associated first or second transactioncard identifier 75, 89, respectively.

The system 30 can also include transaction card account activation andprocessing computer program product 101 stored, for example, in thememory 45 of the financial institution server 35, to manage transactioncard activation and payment processing. Note, the program product 101can be in the form of microcode, programs, routines, and symboliclanguages that provide a specific set or sets of ordered operations thatcontrol the functioning of the hardware and direct its operation, asknown and understood by those skilled in the art. Note also, the programproduct 101, according to an embodiment of the present invention, neednot reside in its entirety in volatile memory of the server 35, but canbe selectively loaded, as necessary, according to various methodologiesas known and understood by those skilled in the art of computer systems.

The program product 101 can include a set of instructions that, whenexecuted by the financial institution server 35, cause the server 35 toperform various operations, to include receiving activation request dataincluding a first payment message from the merchant POS apparatus 37responsive to either the customer or the merchant sliding the magneticstrip 85 through the magnetic strip reader/slot 65 of the merchant POSapparatus 37 to upload activation approval data to the merchant POSapparatus 37, receiving from the merchant POS apparatus 37, a secondpayment message defining a card purchase acknowledgment that themerchant POS apparatus 37 or a merchant associated therewith receivedfrom a purchasing customer, sufficient monetary funds to purchase thetransaction card product 31, and completing activation of thetransaction card 71 responsive to receiving the second payment message.The activation request data can include at least a portion of the secondunique transaction card identifier 89, a flag indicating a capability ofthe merchant POS apparatus 37 to support partial-authorizationmessaging, and/or the transaction dollar amount. The activation approvaldata can include data indicating a partial authorization approvalbalance of, e.g., zero dollars, for the transaction card transactionaccount 77. The operation of completing activation of the account 77 caninclude transferring monetary hinds into the account 77 associated withthe selected (purchased) transaction card 71, and retiring the secondunique transaction card identifier 89 or PAN associated with theselected transaction card 71. The activation process, according toembodiments of the present invention, will be described in more detailbelow.

FIG. 3 provides a high-level flow diagram illustrating a method (and/oroperations) for activating and processing the sale of a serializedtransaction card product 31 over an existing payment network 33utilizing partial-authorization messaging. For example, according to anembodiment of the present invention, the card issuer obtains or providesa plurality of transaction cards 71 such as, for example, gift orprepaid debit cards (block 201), and if not already accomplished,generates and/or assigns each transaction card 71 a first uniquetransaction card identifier 75 (e.g., financial transaction PAN)including a transaction BIN 91 and a unique “transaction” number 92(block 203). The card issuer further associates each of the plurality oftransaction cards 71 with a corresponding unique transaction cardtransaction account 77 identified by account number (block 205).

The card issuer also generates a second unique transaction cardidentifier 89 (e.g., activation PAN) for each of the transaction cards71 (block 207). As shown in FIG. 4, generating a second transaction cardidentifier 89 for each of the transaction cards 71 can include obtaininga BIN 95 preferably dedicated to use for activating of each of thetransaction cards 71 (block 211), generating a series of unique“activation” numbers 96 to be associated with the activation BIN 95(block 213), and combining the activation BIN 95 with each separate oneof the plurality of unique numbers 96 to form a corresponding number ofsecond unique transaction. card identifiers (e.g., activation PANs) 89(block 215).

As further shown in FIG. 3, each of the second transaction cardidentifiers 89 or PANs can be linked or associated to a correspondingseparate one of the first unique transaction card identifiers 75directly and/or indirectly via association with an associated uniquetransaction card transaction account 77 (block 221), which, in turn, isassociated with a respective first unique transaction card identifier75. Also, each of the transaction cards 71 are packed in a separateretail packaging container 81 to form a retail transaction card product31 (block 223). Note, the steps/operations associated with blocks 203,205, 207, and 221, are normally performed, at least in part, by server35.

As shown in FIG. 5, prior to or at some time very shortly after“wrapping” each transaction card 71 in its respective packagingcontainer 81, if not already accomplished, as part of the step ofpackaging the transaction cards 71, a product identification indicator83 bar code) is affixed to the container 81 (block 231). An accountactivation indicator 85 (e.g., magnetic strip or other storage device)containing or otherwise configured to contain indicia of an assignedsecond unique transaction card identifier 89, is also affixed to thecontainer 81 (block 233). The packaging container 81 is sealed to maskthe magnetic strip 73 or other account identification storage medium ofthe respective transaction card 71 and to incorporate tamper evidentcharacteristics that readily indicate to the merchant if an unauthorizedattempt has been made to physically access the transaction card 71 fromwithin the packaging container 81, prior to purchase (block 235).

As further shown in FIG. 3, the transaction card product 31 isdistributed to a merchant having a POS apparatus 37 that supportspartial-authorization messaging in a POS environment (block 241).

As shown in FIG. 6, to purchase a transaction card 71, a customer bringsa card product 31 to the POS checkout counter, for example. The merchantscans the product identification indicator 83, e.g., 12 digit UPC, torecord the sale of the card 71 (block 251). The card 71 may be apre-denominated (e.g., $25 gift card) for an open denominated card atwhich point the POS apparatus 37, according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, will prompt for that amount. At the end of purchaseprocess, the merchant POS apparatus 37 begins its end-of-sale tenderingprocess and prompts for “payment” (block 253). The first “payment”presented should be a “swipe” of the magnetic strip 85 of the cardproduct 31 through the magnetic strip reader/slot 65 of the POSapparatus 37 (block 255), which begins communication with theinstitution server 35 through the payment network 33.

As shown in HG. 7, the financial institution server 35 receives theactivation request data from the merchant POS apparatus 37 (block 261)responsive to a user interfacing the magnetic strip 85 or other accountactivation indicator with the merchant POS apparatus 37. The activationrequest data provided to the server 35 can include at least a portion ofthe second unique transaction card identifier 89 (e.g., the respectiveactivation PAN) assigned to the respective transaction card 71 to bepurchased and a flag indicating a capability of the merchant POSapparatus 37 to support partial-authorization messaging. The data canalso include the transaction amount (e.g. $25 for a $25 gift card). Inan alternative embodiment of the present invention, the transactionamount can include a value to be added to the transaction card 71associated with a transaction account 77 that has been originated with,for example, a zero balance, pending activation of the associatedtransaction card 71.

In response to the activation PAN, for example, the server 35 sendsactivation approval data to the merchant POS apparatus 37 (block 263).The activation approval data can include data indicating that the “cardissuer” “approves” the transaction, but rather than responding with thecard face or requested value, responds with a partial authorizationavailable balance of, e.g., “$0.00,” for the respective transaction card71 to be purchased. The merchant POS apparatus 37 records this event andthen prompts the purchaser for an additional form of payment (block265). Note, the steps/operations indicated by 255, 261, 263, and 265,can be repeated for the purchase of multiple transaction cards 71 soldin a single POS transaction. After each magnetic strip 85 of eachtransaction card product 31 to be purchased has been swiped, thecustomer is expected to provide, and the merchant is expected toreceive, a valid additional form of payment (block 267).

Once the server 35 receives an acknowledgment from the merchant POSapparatus 37 that the merchant received sufficient funds from thepurchasing customer (block 271), the server 35 completes activation ofthe purchased card 71 (block 273). This can include transferringmonetary funds into the respective transaction card's transactionaccount 77 associated with the selected transaction card 71, andretiring the second unique transaction card identifier 89 or PANassociated with the respective purchased transaction card 71. The cardissuer or financial institution (if not the issuer) and merchant thensettle the accounts based on the amount of value added or otherwiseprovide to the transaction card 71 (i.e., account 77), along with anycontract fees (block 275).

FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary scenario that summarizes many of thesteps/operations of the process described in FIGS. 3-7, whereby thetransaction (activation/funding of the card 71) is successful, Thisillustration includes the physical transfer of the transaction cardproduct 31, and includes an exemplary dataflow between the merchant andthe card issuer (e.g., via server 35), to include post-activationsettlement. Particularly, with respect to the post activationsettlement, FIG. 8 further illustrates the scenario whereby, havingactivated the transaction card 71 via partial-authorization messaging,the steps/operations can further include the card issuer settling fundsdirectly (merchant bank to issuing bank) to acquire the customer's valuefrom the merchant to fund the card account, rather than through use ofthe card issuer's distributor. That is, responsive to thepartial-authorization which placed the merchant in a position to apply aseparate tender via a standard payment transaction to pay for the “valuesold”, the issuer advantageously can settle directly with the merchant,e.g., via ACH, for the pre-denominated amount of the transaction pluscontract fees.

FIG. 9 illustrates a scenario where the purchasing consumer is unable toproduce sufficient funds to pay for the transaction card 71 at thesecond payment prompt. In such scenario, either via a timeout, or viacommunication with the merchant POS apparatus 37 which provides arequest to reverse the partial authorization transaction, the server 35responsively interrupts, or does not otherwise continue, the activationprocess and no settlement occurs.

FIG. 10 illustrates a scenario where the transaction is declined by thecard issuer. For example, the transaction card package 31 may have beenreported stolen, the merchant may no longer in good standing financiallywith the issuer, or any number of other reasons known to those skilledin the art, may result in a need to decline the transaction.

FIG. 11 illustrates a scenario where the purchasing customer wishes toreturn the preferably unopened transaction card package 31, but themerchant has a no refund policy. In such scenario, the merchant securesthe package 31 and provides the purchasing customer a telephone numberto the issuer to request a refund. Preferably through an interactivevoice response system (not shown), the refund is processed directly tothe purchasing customer.

It is important to note that while embodiments of the present inventionhave been described in the context of a fully functional system, thoseskilled in the art will appreciate that the mechanism of at leastportions of the present invention and/or aspects thereof are capable ofbeing distributed in the form of a computer readable medium in a varietyof forms storing a set of instructions for execution on a processor,processors, or the like, and that embodiments of the present inventionapply equally regardless of the particular type of signal bearing mediaused to actually carry out the distribution. Examples of the computerreadable media include, but are not limited to: nonvolatile, hard-codedtype media such as read only memories (ROMs), CD-ROMs, and DVD-ROMs, orerasable, electrically programmable read only memories (EEPROMs),recordable type media such as floppy disks, hard disk drives, CD-R/RWs,DVD-RAMs, DVD-R/RWs, DVD+R/RWs, HD-DVDs, memory sticks, mini disks,laser disks, Blu-ray disks, flash drives, and other newer types ofmemories, and certain types of transmission type media such as, forexample, certain digital and analog communication links capable ofstoring the set of instructions. Such media can contain, for example,both operating instructions and the operations instructions related tothe program product 101 and the computer executable portions of themethod steps/operations, described above.

Accordingly, an embodiment of the present invention can include acomputer readable medium that is readable by a computer, e.g., server35, to manage transaction card activation and payment processing. Thecomputer readable medium can include a set of instructions (e.g.,program product 101 and/or above described method steps/operations incomputer readable form) that, when executed by the server 35, cause theserver 35 to perform various operations, including the operations ofreceiving activation request data including a first payment message fromthe merchant POS apparatus 37 over the payment network 33 in response toeither the customer or the merchant sliding the magnetic strip 85through the magnetic strip reader/slot 65 of the merchant POS apparatus37, which can result in an automated transmission thereto, and sendingactivation approval data to the merchant POS apparatus 37 over thepayment network 33.

The activation request data associated with the first payment messagecan include at least a portion of the second unique transaction cardidentifier 89, a flag indicating a capability of the merchant POSapparatus 37 to support partial-authorization messaging, and/or thetransaction dollar amount. The activation approval data cancorrespondingly include data indicating a partial authorization approvalbalance of, e.g., zero dollars, for the transaction card transactionaccount 77.

The operations can also include receiving from the merchant POSapparatus 37 over the payment network 33, a second payment messagedefining a card purchase acknowledgment that the merchant POS apparatus37 or a merchant associated therewith received from a purchasingcustomer, sufficient monetary funds to purchase the transaction cardproduct 31, and can include completing activation of the transactioncard 71 responsive to receiving the second payment message. Theoperation of completing activation of the account 77 can includetransferring monetary funds into the account 77 associated with theselected (purchased) transaction card 71, and retiring the second uniquetransaction card identifier 89 or activation PAN associated with theselected transaction card 71. Additional details of the activationprocess, according to embodiments of the present invention, weredescribed above.

This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/554,432, filed Sep. 4, 2009, titled “System,Program Product And Methods For Retail Activation And Reload AssociatedWith Partial Authorization Transactions,” which claims priority to U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/148,752, filed on Jan. 30, 2009,titled “System, Program Product and Methods for Retail Activation andReload Associated With Partial Authorization Transactions,” U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/110,332, filed Oct. 31, 2008,titled “System, Program Product and Methods for Retail Activation andReload Associated With Partial Authorization Transactions,” U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/094,335, filed Sep. 4, 2008,titled “System, Program Product and Methods for Retail Activation andReload Associated With Partial Authorization Transactions,” and U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/118,127, filed on Nov. 26, 2008,titled “System, Apparatus, Methods and Program Product for ElectronicInventory Tracking,” and is related to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/110,319, filed on Oct. 31, 2008, titled “System,Methods, and Program Product for Electronic Order Entry,” eachincorporated by reference in its entirety.

In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed typicalpreferred embodiments of the invention, and although specific terms areemployed, the terms are used in a descriptive sense only and not forpurposes of limitation. The invention has been described in considerabledetail with specific reference to these illustrated embodiments. It willbe apparent, however, that various modifications and changes can be madewithin the spirit and scope of the invention as described in theforegoing specification.

That claimed is:
 1. A computer-assisted method of activating aserialized transaction card product over an open electronic financialpayment network utilizing partial-authorization messaging, the methodcomprising the steps of: determining, by a computer, receipt ofactivation request data, the activation request data. including at aunique product packaging identifier and a flag indicating a capabilityof a payment interface associated with a merchant to supportpartial-authorization messaging, the activation request data being sentthrough an open electronic financial payment network from one or more ofa plurality of merchant acquirer computers associated with the merchant,the unique product packaging identifier being associated with a selectedone of a plurality of retail transaction card products, the uniqueproduct packaging identifier comprising an activation BankIdentification Number (“BIN”); sending, by the computer via theelectronic financial payment network responsive to the determiningreceipt of the activation request data, partial-authorization approvaldata to the one or more of the plurality of merchant acquirer computersto thereby use the partial authorization messaging to facilitate theactivation of the selected one of the plurality of retail transactioncard products using the electronic financial payment network; andactivating, by the computer, the selected transaction card productassociated with the activation request data responsive to receipt of oneor more transaction messages sent through the electronic financialpayment network from the one or more of the plurality of merchantacquirer computers indicating a purchase acknowledgement of the selectedtransaction card product.
 2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein thepartial-authorization approval data partial authorization approvalbalance represents zero dollars available to thereby indicate arequirement to tender funds to complete activation of the selectedtransaction card product associated with the activation request data. 3.A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the method further includes:generating a plurality of unique product packaging identifiers, each ofthe plurality of unique product packaging identifiers comprising acommon BIN defining an activation BIN and a first unique identifier. 4.A method as defined in claim 3, wherein each of the first uniqueidentifiers are associated with one or more merchants.
 5. A method asdefined in claim 3, wherein the activation BIN is associated with afinancial institution.
 6. A computer associated with a financialinstitution for activating a serialized transaction card product over anopen electronic financial payment network utilizingpartial-authorization messaging, the computer comprising: one or moreinput/output unit; one or more processors; one or more non-transitorymemories having one or more computer programs stored therein, the one ormore compute programs operable to cause the one or more processors toperform the steps of: determining receipt of activation request data,the activation request data including at a unique product packagingidentifier and a flag indicating a capability of a payment interfaceassociated with a merchant to support partial-authorization messaging,the activation request data being sent through an open electronicfinancial payment network from one or more of a plurality of merchantacquirer computers associated with the merchant, the unique productpackaging identifier being associated with a selected one of a pluralityof retail transaction card products, the unique product packagingidentifier comprising an activation Bank Identification Number (“BIN”);sending via the electronic financial payment network responsive to thedetermining receipt of the activation request data,partial-authorization approval data to the one or more of the pluralityof merchant acquirer computers to thereby use the partial authorizationmessaging to facilitate the activation of the selected one of theplurality of retail transaction card products using the electronicfinancial payment network; and activating, by the computer, the selectedtransaction card product associated with the activation request dataresponsive to receipt of one or more transaction messages sent throughthe electronic financial payment network from the one or more of theplurality of merchant acquirer computers indicating a purchaseacknowledgement of the selected transaction card product.
 7. A computeras defined in claim 6, wherein the partial-authorization approval datapartial authorization approval balance represents zero dollars availableto thereby indicate a requirement to tender funds to complete activationof the selected transaction card product associated with the activationrequest data.
 8. A computer as defined in claim 6, wherein the methodfurther includes: generating a plurality of unique product packagingidentifiers, each of the plurality of unique product packagingidentifiers comprising a common BIN defining an activation BIN and afirst unique identifier.
 9. A computer as defined in claim 6, whereineach of the first unique identifiers are associated with one or moremerchants.
 10. A method as defined in claim 6, wherein the activationBIN is associated with a financial institution.
 11. A computer-assistedmethod of activating a serialized transaction card product over an openelectronic financial payment network utilizing partial-authorizationmessaging, the method comprising the steps of: associating, by acomputer, each of a plurality of transaction cards with one of aplurality of first unique identifiers and with one of a plurality ofsecond unique identifiers, the plurality of first identifiers comprisinga transaction Bank Identification Number (“BIN”) and the plurality ofsecond identifiers comprising an activation BIN different from thetransaction BIN, packaging each of the plurality of transaction cards ina containers, each container including indicia of one of the pluralityof second unique identifiers, determining, by the computer, receipt ofactivation request data, the activation request data including one ormore of the plurality of second unique identifiers and a flag indicatinga capability of a payment interface associated with a merchant tosupport partial-authorization messaging, the activation request databeing sent through an open electronic financial payment network from oneor more of a plurality of merchant acquirer computers associated withthe merchant; activating, by the computer, a selected transaction cardproduct associated with the activation request data responsive toreceipt of one or more transaction messages sent through the electronicfinancial payment network from the one or more of the plurality ofmerchant acquirer computers indicating a purchase acknowledgement of theselected transaction card product.
 12. A method as defined in claim 11,wherein the method further includes the step of: sending, by thecomputer via the electronic financial payment network responsive to thedetermining receipt of the activation request data,partial-authorization approval data to the one or more of the pluralityof merchant acquirer computers to thereby use the partial authorizationmessaging to facilitate the activation of the selected one of theplurality of retail transaction card products using the electronicfinancial payment network; and wherein the activating is responsive tothe sending step.
 13. A method as defined in claim 11, wherein the stepof packaging each of the plurality of cards includes the steps of:positioning a product identification indicator on a first portion of anexternal surface of the retail container; and positioning the accountactivation indicator on a second portion of the external surface of theretail container, the account activation indicator including therespective assigned second unique transaction card identifier.
 14. Amethod as defined in claim 11, wherein the step of completing activationof the selected transaction card comprises the steps of: transferringmonetary funds into a transaction card transaction account associatedwith the selected transaction card product; and retiring the secondunique transaction card identifier associated with the selectedtransaction card.
 15. Non-transitory computer readable memory having oneor more computer programs stored therein, the one or more computeprograms comprising instructions operable to cause a computer associatedwith a financial institution to perform the steps of: determiningreceipt of activation request data, the activation request dataincluding at a unique product packaging identifier and a flag indicatinga capability of a payment interface associated with a merchant tosupport partial-authorization messaging, the activation request databeing sent through an open electronic financial payment network from oneor more of a plurality of merchant acquirer computers associated withthe merchant, the unique product packaging identifier being associatedwith a selected one of a plurality of retail transaction card products,the unique product packaging identifier comprising an activation BankIdentification Number (“BIN”); sending via the electronic financialpayment network responsive to the determining receipt of the activationrequest data, partial-authorization approval data to the one or more ofthe plurality of merchant acquirer computers to thereby use the partialauthorization messaging to facilitate the activation of the selected oneof the plurality of retail transaction card products using theelectronic financial payment network; and activating, by the computer,the selected transaction card product associated with the activationrequest data responsive to receipt of one or more transaction messagessent through the electronic financial payment network from the one ormore of the plurality of merchant acquirer computers indicating apurchase acknowledgement of the selected transaction card product. 16.Non-transitory memory as defined in claim 15, wherein thepartial-authorization approval data partial authorization approvalbalance represents zero dollars available to thereby indicate arequirement to tender funds to complete activation of the selectedtransaction card product associated with the activation request data.17. Non-transitory memory as defined in claim 15, the computer programfurther includes instructions operable to cause a computer associatedwith a financial institution to perform the step of: generating aplurality of unique product packaging identifiers, each of the pluralityof unique product packaging identifiers comprising a common BIN definingan activation BIN and a first unique identifier.
 18. Non-transitorymemory as defined in claim 15, wherein each of the first uniqueidentifiers are associated with one or more merchants. 19.Non-transitory memory as defined in claim 15, wherein the activation BINis associated with a financial institution.
 20. Non-transitory memory asdefined in claim 15, wherein the payment interface is a POS magneticstrip card reader slot adapted to read magnetic card strips.